FLASH RECAP:
Rich Gannon throws three touchdown passes to propel Oakland (8-2) past New York before an announced crowd of 78,756 at Giants Stadium on Nov. 25, 2001. The Raiders score touchdowns on three of their first four possessions for a 21-3 lead. Oakland's Tim Brown has six catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns. Tiki Barber rushes for 124 yards on 19 carries for New York (5-6). Oakland wins its 10th straight game against an NFC opponent. With his first catch against the Giants, Brown becomes the fifth player in league history to reach 900 receptions. With 905 career catches, Brown joins Jerry Rice (1,325), Cris Carter (1,070), Andre Reed (951) and Art Monk (940) as members of the 900 club.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
QB Rich Gannon -- Completes 13 of 20 passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns. He hits 9 of 12 passes for 153 yards an two scores in the first half. Gannon throws for a touchdown every 6.7 passing attempts.
WR Tim Brown -- Catches six passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns. The 14-year veteran has scoring catches of 46 and 19 yards. His 46- and 40-yard receptions are the longest pass plays of the season for Oakland.
OLB William Thomas -- Contributes a game-high 11 total tackles (eight solo) and a sack two days after his brother dies unexpectedly.
OT Lincoln Kennedy -- Limits Giants DE Michael Strahan to two total tackles and one sack.
RB Charlie Garner -- Rushes for 68 yards and catches three passes for 38 yards. His 21-yard touchdown on a screen pass early in the second quarter gives Oakland a 14-3 lead. Garner's 38-yard run on the game's first offensive play is the longest rush of the season for Oakland.
RB Tiki Barber -- Rushes for 124 yards on 19 carries, including a 12-yard touchdown in the third quarter. He also has five receptions for 41 yards.
WR Amani Toomer -- Averages 17.5 yards on four catches.
DE Michael Strahan -- His 16th sack of the season is a gift from the Giants Stadium statistics crew. Strahan deflects a third-quarter pass by Rich Gannon. The pass is caught by Gannon, who is tackled for a 1-yard loss by New York OLB Brandon Short. The play is ruled a sack and forced fumble by Strahan. Editor's note: After reviewing tape of the Giants-Raiders game, the Elias Sports Bureau took away 1/2 sack from Strahan and credited Short with 1/2 sack.
MLB Mike Barrow -- Has 10 total tackles (seven solo).
GOAT OF THE GAME:
Giants coach Jim Fassell. In a game his team desperately needs to win, Fassell is out-coached by Oakland's Jon Gruden. The Raiders start fast, and the Giants never catch up. Fassell tells reporters after the Giants' second straight loss: "It just doesn't seem like right now we are making the plays to get momentum. And we can't stop them from making a play."
TURNING POINT:
Oakland scores touchdowns on three of its first four possessions to build a 21-3 lead. After Zack Crockett opens the scoring on a 1-yard run to complete the game's first drive, Rich Gannon throws touchdown passes to Charlie Garner (for 21 yards) and to Tim Brown (46 yards) in the second quarter.
KEY DRIVE:
The Raiders move 89 yards in six plays for their third touchdown of the first half. On third-and-six, Rich Gannon throws to Jerry Rice for 34 yards to the New York 41. After a 5-yard Oakland penalty, Gannon hits Tim Brown over the middle for a 46-yard touchdown pass with 1:51 remaining in the second quarter. Sebastian Janikowski's PAT gives Oakland a commanding 21-3 lead.
BY THE NUMBERS:
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2: Sacks by Oakland DE Regan Upshaw, doubling his total for the season.
5: Consecutive Oakland road victories against NFC opposition.
117: Receiving yards by Oakland's Tim Brown. The Giants surrender at least 100 receiving yards to an opposing player for the fourth straight game.
2003: Career points for Giants kicker Morten Andersen, who overtakes Raiders' legend George Blanda as the NFL's second-leading scorer. Blanda has 2002 career points.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders WR Jerry Rice
"We knew how important this game was. When you come to New York to play the Giants, you better be ready to fight. I think we came in very composed. We executed and put points on the board early, and we were able to weather the rain."
"It seems like we can't put it together. One week it's something, the next week it's something. That's what makes it so frustrating. We can be right there, but we don't end up making plays."
Giants QB Kerry Collins
DID YOU KNOW?:
Under coach Jon Gruden, the Raiders are 13-2 vs. the NFC since 1998. Oakland has won 10 straight against NFC opposition since losing at Green Bay 28-24 on Sept. 9, 1999.
Oakland's Tim Brown (81) celebrates after scoring his first of two touchdowns against New York.
By Associated Press
